Tomás and the Library Lady

Tomás and the Library Lady is a bi-lingual play which follows the boyhood story of Tomás Rivera and how he befriended a librarian in Iowa who encouraged him to read. Tomás, the child of migrant farm workers, became a writer, a professor, and a national education leader. He rose to become the Chancellor at University of California at Riverside. The campus library now bears his name. The play includes a cast of three with puppets and projections that create a magical journey of discovery set in the early 1940’s in Midwest.

Book now to bring this magical bi-lingual show to your community!

Why We Are Producing Tomás and the Library Lady
A Letter from the Director

We are thrilled to bring Tomás and the Library Lady back to communities in the Bay Area and Central Valley as the first leg of our latest Connect and Play tour! This will be our return to live theatre for youth and their caregivers after our Connect and Play programming was paused in 2020. We hope this beloved favorite will touch more lives and rekindle a love for live performances.

Tomás and the Library Lady offers young theatre goers and their families a heart-warming exploration of Tomás Rivera’s childhood. As young Tomás travels with his family of migrant farm workers to Iowa, he learns to explore his imagination and share his stories both in English and Spanish with the help of a very special Library Lady. He confronts his fears and begins a life-long love of writing and teaching. The play is based on the Pat Mora children’s book about the real Tomás Rivera.

Tomás and the Library Lady holds a special place in my heart. It was the very first show our company we produced back in 2016, and it set the stage for a long history of bilingual works produced by Fuse Theatre. We are excited to return to our roots and to bring this enchanting production to a new generation of young audiences.

Recreating this show has been a blast from the past - and a reminder of all that we have accomplished as a theatre company in the past eight years. Our true strength is in our artists and the extraordinary casts and crews we get to work with. We are fortunate to have another extraordinarily passionate and talented group spearheading this new production of Tomás and the Library Lady. Raissa Marchetti-Kozlov is returning in her role as the female player - and has recently returned to Fuse as the Coordinator for our Connect and Play Program. Her enthusiasm for bringing bi-lingual theatre to youth and their caregivers shines through her performance and through her service to our larger TYA programming.

And of course, our beloved puppet characters are returning as well! Enrique, Papá Grande and Nightmare Teacher look forward to joining our actors in telling this incredible story.

We hope to see you soon to enjoy Tomás and the Library Lady!

Stacey Ardelean

Founder of Fuse Theatre and Director of Tomás and the Library Lady

More about Tomás and the Library Lady

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Meet the Cast

Santiago Zapien

Young Tomás

Raissa Marchetti-Kozlov

Josefa, The Library Lady and The Nightmare Teacher

Osvaldo Mora

Florencio and Papá Grande

FAQs

Is Tomás and the Library Lady about a real person?

Yes! The real Tomás Rivera was born in 1935 in Crystal City, Texas. He was a migrant worker who graduated from college and became a famous writer and professor. He created many magnificent stories in books.
Will I still understand the story if I don’t speak Spanish?

Yes! Bilingual plays are written so that people can follow the story whether they speak English, Spanish or a bit of both. Tomás and the Library Lady has more English than Spanish
Is Tomás and the Library Lady educational?

Yes. The production tells one story of migrant farm workers and the challenges faced by many immigrants who come to the U.S. for work and family. Tomás Rivera is an important Chicano figure.
Is Tomás and the Library Lady for all ages?

We recommend Tomás and the Library Lady for ages 5-12 but audiences of all ages love the heartwarming story of Tomás and his family. The Nightmare Teacher can be a little scary, so younger audience members might want to sit close to their adults.
Can you tell me about the accessibility of this show?

Tomás and the Library Lady has visual and auditory elements of a “traditional” theatre performance. There is a backdrop set, set pieces, props, costumes, lighting and music. There are three puppet characters - Enrique, Papá Grande and Nightmare Teacher. The lighting in the production is minimal and it never gets dark. We add to the room lights with some colored lighting to help with mood changes. There is recorded music and sound effects - like a tire blowout and a howling moon. The actors sing along with the music. We're dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for children and their caregivers. If you have any specific questions or requests regarding accessibility, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team. You can contact raissamk@fusetheatre.org.
How scary is the Nightmare Teacher?

She’s pretty scary - she appears three times before Tomás “concurs” his fears and puts her away. She is an outlandish big puppet and her puppeteer can be seen. Her voice is high pitched and kind of scratchy. Let us know if you would like to “meet” her prior to the performance before she’s in Tomás’ nightmare!
I know kids who would love this show! Can I bring Tomás and the Library Lady to my school or community center?

Absolutely! We’re looking for community partners in the San Francisco Bay Area who would like to host performances of this magical show. Please reach out to raissamk@fusetheatre.org for bookings.
How can I prepare myself and my child for this show?

You can check out our info packet, which includes a song list and character guide. We also encourage everyone to read Pat Mora’s book, Tomás and the Library Lady - in English or Spanish!

Bookings

Bring Tomás and the Library Lady to your community this Fall!

Email our Connect and Play Program Coordinator
Raissa Marchetti-Kozlov for booking inquiries at raissamk@fusetheatre.org.